Re: CHAT: The Conlang Instinct
From: | Sally Caves <scaves@...> |
Date: | Sunday, December 12, 1999, 23:11 |
John Cowan wrote:
>
> Nik Taylor scripsit:
> >
> > And Rosta wrote:
> > > past events, which are behind us.
> >
> > I've often thought that past being _ahead_ of us would be an appropriate
> > metaphor - you can "see" the past thru memories, just as you can see
> > what's ahead of you, but you *can't* see the future, just as you can't
> > see what's behind you.
>
> Supposedly, Quecha exhibits this metaphorical structure: backing into the
> future.
And Welsh does the opposite, as I suppose is very conventional: I am
after
going: Rydw'n gwedy mynd. I picture them throwing the event over their
shoulder. I'd love to know how Quechua shows this backing into the
future.
Sally
>
> --
> John Cowan cowan@ccil.org
> I am a member of a civilization. --David Brin
--
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SALLY CAVES
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